PEACE, LOVE, AND THE '70'S

A new report states that if we revert back to the lifestyle people used to live in the 1970's, we would be able to overcome climate change!!

So slip on some bell bottoms, turn up the Zeppelin, and check out THIS article!

BIKINI BASICS

HERE is a quick article on what you probably aren't but SHOULD be doing if you really want that bikini body for swimsuit season.

Simple and to the point! Good article. Here is a summary:

1) Write down your goals (keeps you on track, keeps you motivated)
2) Fit in some fun (do cardio that you ENJOY! Try something new, like paddle-boarding)
3) Toss the magazine (cardio should be hard enough to actually burn calories and fat)
4) Think outside the crunch (there are several muscles in the abdomen, work them all!)
5) Break less (don't rest between exercises, connecting everything burns more calories)
6) Remember all your major muscles (WHOLE body workout!)

Here's to fitting into that teeny bikini (preferably one made of organic fabrics)!

HEALTH AND IMMUNE BOOST

HERE is an article with a guide to living with "your best health", naturally. All of these techniques are also geared towards increasing the effectiveness of your immune system, helping to stave off disease. A summary of the tips:

1) Get your sleep!
2) Stay in shape (30-40 minutes of cardio/day)
3) Floss your teeth
4) Swear off sugar
5) Get a massage (I like this one!)
6) Meditate
7) Try acupuncture
8) PRACTICE YOGA
9) Take echinacea
10) Eat crunchy veggies
11) Take probiotics
12) Take a mushroom extract (like AHCC)
13) Boost your vitamin D (15 minutes of noon-time sun or add a supplement)
14) Laugh more (increases activity of T-killer cells, a major part of your immune system)
15) Take elderberry extract
16) Recharge your thymus (by going to a chiropractor or taking a thymus support supplement)
17) Spend time with friends
18) Eat bright, eat right (add colorful veggies to your diet for zinc and selenium)
19) Go with garlic (2 cloves a day. Antiviral and antibiotic properties)
20) DRINK TEA!

On top of increasing your overall health, some nice side effects of following this plan are decreased stress and decreased body fat!

BURN, BABY BURN!

Here are several tips on how to increase your resting metabolic rate and burn off those excess pounds, naturally! The tips:

1) Lift weights at least 2 days a week on non-consecutive days (allowing muscle to heal). Now don't be shy about using weights that are heavy! The more muscle you build, the more calories you burn just sitting at the computer reading this blog!

2) Add some spice to your life! Adding spices to your foods, including hot sauces, garlic, cinnamon, and others, have been shown to not only speed up your metabolism, but many of them decrease inflammation throughout the body (think Aleve without the side effects), therefore helping your body to effectively regulate your metabolism.

3) DRINK TEA! Green and white in particular. Have at least 3 cups a day to experience the effects of EGCG, an antioxidant shown to increase base metabolic rate.

4) Become a fidget-er. The more you move, the more calories you burn. Standing for a few extra hours each day burns an additional 100 calories! Unload the dishwasher one dish at a time, walking around the kitchen to put each item away. The calories add up fast and soon enough you'll be slimmer without feeling like you had to put in any work!

More tips to come, but for now, implement as many of these as you can. Every ounce of effort will make a difference in your goal for a sexy, slimmer you!

HAIR AND SPEARMINT...

OK, this is crazy!
A study coming out of Turkey shows that women with excessive hair growth (facial, stomach, and/or chest) who drank two cups of Spearmint tea a day saw a noticeable decline in hair growth!

The cause? Spearmint blocks the effects of testosterone, which is often the culprit behind hirsutism (aka men's facial hair on a woman).

So throw away your hair bleaching agents and grab a couple of boxes of spearmint tea!

The article is available HERE

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES OK'ED FOR TREATING CANCER TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS

A study coming out of the Cochrane Collaboration shows that homeopathic herbs and treatments for side effects of cancer treatments like chemo do not interfere with the drugs, plus many of the remedies were proven to be effective!

Among the herbs they tested was Calendula creme, which was effective at treating skin irritation from bouts of chemo. Traummel S. for mouth sores was also included in the study

Soooo nice to finally see homeopathic health taken seriously! Normal pharmaceuticals often treat one symptom while creating another (like Ibuprofen helps with inflammation but can damage the liver). Naturopathic medicine is often effective, we just need more studies done to verify this to the scientific community so that MD's can offer these treatments to their patients in good conscience.

You can read the article HERE

THE UNSUNG BENEFITS OF WHITE TEA

So by now I'm sure you've heard all the hoopla surrounding green tea and all of its health benefits. Among those tested clinically are:
*Weight loss/increased metabolism
*Immune system support
*Tooth decay prevention
*Cancer prevention (especially skin cancer)
etc., etc., etc.,

Green tea is awesome and it tastes great (try Goji Berry Green Tea from Yogi Teas, very yummy), but did you know that the lesser known White Tea possesses all of these qualities and more??

White tea is freaking amazing! Real white tea (Yin Zhen, or silver needle, READ LABELS! It may say white but it might not be the good stuff) is the least processed of all teas. Basically it is harvested and then dried in the sun... that's it. No chemicals, just antioxidant goodness!

Because of the limited processing and the nature of white tea (it is technically the tea buds before they sprout, therefore they have all of the antioxidants a full grown leaf needs but over a smaller surface area) it has more EGCG (yep, the antioxidant in green tea that boosts metabolism) and higher catechin levels (another antioxidant that helps prevent cancer) than any other tea.

White tea also has less caffeine than green tea, about 1/3 the amount in a cup of coffee. Too much caffeine can mess with your metabolism and lead to adrenal insufficiency, aka it can make it harder for you to lose weight in the long run, making white tea a great option for dieters.

I drink white tea like crazy for the health benefits and because it has such a mild and sweet flavor. Rishi Tea's silver needle is pretty good and you can add stevia to your cup to naturally sweeten it if you want more flavor.

The only downside to White Tea: the cost. It is only able to be harvested 2 days a year in a small province in China, hence making supplies limited. Trust me, the health benefits are worth every penny, but if you're tight on cash like I am in this current economy, you can also try cheaper versions (non-silver needle) that include tea leaves and white tea buds in combination. Similar health effects for a lot less moolah!

FOODS FOR WEIGHT LOSS

HERE's a great article on 20 "superfoods" that can aid you in your quest for a down-sized dress-size. You can read the whole article for details, but here is the list in its entirety:

1. Olive Oil
2. Avacado
3. Parmesan
4. Tarragon
5. Sardines
6. Quinoa
7. Yogurt (especially Greek Yogurt)
8. Chilies
9. Pomegranate
10. Almond Butter
11. Blueberries
12. Buckwheat Pasta
13. Apples
14. Wild Salmon
15. Goji Berries
16. Lentils
17. Oats
18. Kale
19. Eggs
20. Steak

Basically any food that is high in fiber, protein, healthy fats (unsaturated), vitamins, and/or minerals tends to help your body regulate its metabolism.

Fiber helps your body to remove cholesterol (fatty acids) from your blood stream and aids in digestion (the elimination of toxins), both of which are paticularly helpful in getting rid of belly fat. You'll also increase your bowel health and reduce you chances of getting diverticulosis and certain forms of cancer!

Protein helps to support lean muscle and metabolism, but note that all animal based protein (INCLUDING fish) contain saturated fats, which increase overall inflammation in the body. Limiting or eliminating saturated fats from your diet not only helps keep your cardiovascular system healthy, it will reduce your chances of getting cancer, too (even more reasons to go vegetarian or, better yet, vegan) . Hemp protein and soy protein are great vegetarian options.

Healthy fats, or unsaturated fats, like olive oil and canola oil help to reduce overall inflammation in the body, therefore supporting your metabolism and, again, reducing cancer risk. NEVER EVER eat trans fat (partially hydrogenated oils) since these increase LDL, or bad cholesterol and have been linked to obesity (READ YOUR INGREDIENT LABELS! 0 trans fat per serving does not mean NO trans fat!) Also avoid palm oil and animal based fats, like butter, since these tend to increase inflammation throughout the body and are more easily stored in fatty deposits on the body.

I could go on forever about nutrition, but I'll stop here. Happy eating!!

SWEET, GLOWING SKIN

If you dream of having glowing skin and want to reduce the look of cellulite, nothing works better than a basic sugar scrub. The problem with most body scrubs found in your local supermarket is that they either use exfoliating beads made from plastics (NOT biodegradable) and/or they are chock full of chemicals and parabens.

Parabens (methyl-, proply-, etc.) act as a weak estrogen in the human body and some studies suggest they may be linked to certain birth defects and cancers (breast in particular). Avoid parabens and increase the natural radiance of your skin by using a sugar scrub.

You can make one at home with a few drops of essential oil (or olive oil) and some Sugar in the Raw, or you can check out some of the natural and organic products mentioned HERE

By the way, Natural Health Magazine is my FAVORITE! If you want the latest and greatest information on natural health and beauty, you should seriously subscribe. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

AT HOME REMEDIES

HERE is a set of articles and photos about natural home remedies for everything from upset stomach to psoriasis and allergies. My favorites:

*For BLEMISHES/ACNE: Scrub face gently with coarse salt and a few drops of neem oil. Then apply a mask of plain yogurt for 15-30 minutes. The salt is an antiseptic and helps to exfoliate, the neem oil has antifungal properties, and the lactic acid in the yogurt further exfoliates.

*For UPSET STOMACH: Sip tea made with pomegranate skin or oak bark. If using pomegranate, use 1 tbsp dried pomegranate skin steeped in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. If using oak bark, boil 1 tbsp in water for 3 minutes, then let it steep for 30 minutes, strain and enjoy. Apparently the high level of tannins helps ease stomach discomfort.

*For HANGOVERS: Drink a glass of tomato juice with a splash of tabasco (or Frank's) sauce. The antioxidants in the tomato juice and the metabolic stimulation of the tabasco/frank's aid the body in eliminating toxins post alcohol binge. NOTE: don't expect a miracle. If you drink heavily, only time, rest, electrolytes, and water will do the trick. This remedy merely helps to ease symptoms and support your body while it takes care of the mess left over from the night before.